Dear Members,
As some members may be aware, the Queensland Chief Health Officer on Tuesday 7th December, released the Public Health Direction (PHD) setting out the requirements on businesses covered by the scope of the PHD in response to the vaccination status of people attending the ‘business, activity or undertaking’ to which the Direction applies.
This Direction will take effect from Friday, 17th December 2021 from 5.00 am.
The Club’s Board have carefully reviewed the Direction as it applies to VGC and have taken advice from Club’s Queensland who have been in consultation with Queensland Health in relation to the PHD since it was released. Following a Board meeting last night, the club’s position in relation to meeting its obligations under the PHD is as follows.
- It is mandatory for all Members and Guests of the Club to continue to use the Queensland Check-in QR code each time they attend the Club
- Members & guests (over 16 years of age) who are unable to provide evidence of full vaccination status will be unable to enter the Bar, Bistro & Front Terrace area of the Club from Friday 17th December.
- Evidence of full vaccination status (2 doses of an approved COVID 19 vaccination and/or vaccination booster as applicable) can be:
- via the linking of vaccination status to the Queensland QR Check-in app (green tick)
- a completed (physical) ‘record of vaccination’ card provided to the member as part of the vaccination process,
- a COVID 19 digital certificate or printed vaccination certificate from the Australian Immunisation Registry or,
- evidence of Medical Contraindication preventing receipt of the vaccine completed by a duly Qualified Medical Practitioner.
- Instructions to assist members in downloading vaccination status to the Queensland check-in app can be found at https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/, from your MyGov account or app (medicare-proof of vaccination-view history-share with check-in app) or via the Queensland Check-in app itself. Note that you may need to update the Queensland Check-in app to the latest version. Certificates of vaccination are also available via MyGov/Medicare.
- Queensland Health have advised that Golf Courses (and some other sports) and facilities associated with (the playing of) the sport such as change rooms, locker areas and bathrooms, are not within the scope of the PHD and are not covered by the PHD vaccination requirement. Therefore:
- Unvaccinated members & guests or those unable to supply an approved evidence of vaccination will continue to be permitted to play Golf in competitions and/or social play at VGC from 17th December,
- Unvaccinated members & guests remain permitted to enter the Pro Shop, breezeway and bathroom facilities and may enter the administration area of the Club for inquiries etc (but not the Bar,Bistro & Terrace areas for any purpose)
- Must continue to check in using the Queensland Check-in QR code at the Pro shop.
The Club’s Board of Directors understands this is a critically important issue for many members and have sought to be very diligent in assessing the Club’s obligations under the Public Health Direction and in acting in the best interests of all the Club’s members. We will continue to monitor health advice on this matter very carefully and will provide updates to members as available.
Greg Seaborn
President Virginia Golf Club
